A Single Mother Of 9 Manages Her Household With Only $100 A Week

TELL ME YA CHEESIN FAM?

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It's South Africa I know but still..


What's your money worth? A series from the front line of the cost of living crisis, where people who have been hit hard share their monthly expenses.

Name: Mavis Namba

Age: 53

Occupation: Hairdresser’s assistant

Lives with: Her son Ntsikelo (19), daughter Bongiwe (24), mother Sylvia (75), brother Vuyo (47), and nieces, Hazel (30), Lethe (17), Ahkani (14), and Kwanele (10). They are nine in total and single mother Mavis is the only breadwinner in the home.

Lives in: A low-rent government-owned house in Gugulethu, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa. Mavis shares the 40-square-metre, two-bedroom brick house with her extended family. There is only one outside toilet and no water heater which means they do not have hot water and must boil water on the stove to bathe.

Monthly household income: Since February 2023, Mavis works full-time and earns 1,900 South African rand ($104) per week. This amounts to $416 a month. Mavis’s ailing mother gets a state pension of 1,650 rand ($90) a month. Mavis does not have any savings.

Total expenses for the month: 6,560 rand ($360)


A photo of Mavis Namba.
 

jdubnyce

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t-dot till they bury me
Salute to her

Didn't click the article
But
Based on the details in OP
4 of the 8 others, appear to be of working age
Assuming they don't have physical, mental, spiritual conditions that prohibit them from seeking employment
Why aren't they contributing financially to the home?
 

ScottyG

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Salute to her

Didn't click the article
But
Based on the details in OP
4 of the 8 others, appear to be of working age
Assuming they don't have physical, mental, spiritual conditions that prohibit them from seeking employment
Why aren't they contributing financially to the home?
They live in the boonies outside capetown my guess is aint no jobs out there:francis:
 

Umoja

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What do you mean, I know but still? :gucci:

It is South Africa and she has 4 adults who are able to work in the place. Doubt they're relying on her income alone and $100 goes further in SA.
 

TELL ME YA CHEESIN FAM?

I walk around a little edgy already
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Salute to her

Didn't click the article
But
Based on the details in OP
4 of the 8 others, appear to be of working age
Assuming they don't have physical, mental, spiritual conditions that prohibit them from seeking employment
Why aren't they contributing financially to the home?
Her son is a mentally ill drug fiend
The article doesn't mention why her brother, daughter and oldest niece ain't working
I'm guessing UPS ain't hiring in Capetown
:francis:
 

TELL ME YA CHEESIN FAM?

I walk around a little edgy already
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What do you mean, I know but still? :gucci:

It is South Africa and she has 4 adults who are able to work in the place. Doubt they're relying on her income alone and $100 goes further in SA.
They're relying on her income alone
It's a long read but they break down all her expenses
 
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